Imagine knowing your exact 2027 Social Security check weeks before the paper notice reaches your mailbox. That is what the Social Security Administration (SSA) offers, but there is a date to watch: Wednesday, November 18.
According to the SSA, cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) notices will be available online to most beneficiaries if they created their my Social Security account by that day. With a 3.6% raise coming for 2027, here’s why the account is worth setting up now and how to do it.
What happens on November 18?
The date is a cutoff for early online access, not a deadline for the raise itself. The SSA says notices will show up in the Message Center of personal accounts in late November, for most people who had an account by November 18.
Your raise doesn’t depend on any of this. The COLA is automatic, so you get it whether or not you have an account. You don’t need to apply, and nobody can charge you to activate it.
If you miss the date, you still get your notice by mail, and you can open an account later for everything else it offers.
What will the notice tell you?
The figure that matters most is your personal one. The SSA’s averages give you an idea, but your notice shows the exact amount for 2027:
- Average retired worker: from $2,095 to $2,170 a month.
- Retired couple, both collecting: from $3,238 to $3,355.
- Widow or widower living alone: from $1,936 to $2,005.
These are SSA estimates for benefits payable in January 2027. Your own increase depends on your current benefit.
Is it different if you’re on Medicare?
Yes, and this is the catch for many retirees. The SSA says people who receive Medicare will have their new 2027 benefit amount available in December, through the mailed notice and the Message Center.
The reason is that Medicare Part B premiums are generally deducted from the check, so the deposit you see can be smaller than the raise suggests. If you are reviewing coverage, remember that Medicare open enrollment ends December 7.
How to create your account
It is free and takes a few minutes. You will need your Social Security number, a U.S. mailing address and an email address.
- Go to ssa.gov/myaccount.
- Choose to create an account. You sign in through Login.gov or ID.me.
- Verify your identity with the documents the service asks for.
- Once inside, look for the Message Center, where the notice will appear.
Go directly to the official site. The SSA warns that it never asks for wire transfers or gift cards, and that no government agency requests advance fees for its services. If a text or email offers to help you unlock your raise, treat it as a scam.
What else should you check while you’re there?
Use the visit to review a few things that can affect your money in 2027:
- Direct deposit details: make sure your bank information is up to date.
- Your earnings record: an error there can reduce your benefit.
- Your work income: if you are collecting and younger than full retirement age, the 2027 earnings limit rises to $25,560. The SSA withholds $1 for every $2 above it.
The first larger payments arrive on December 31 for some beneficiaries and in January for most. You can see every date in our December calendar and first COLA checks.
